Three Turkish soldiers dead in clashes in SE Turkey

ANKARA - Agence France- Presse

DHA Photo

Three Turkish soldiers were killed overnight after the militants ambushed a military post and a base in southeastern Turkey, the Anatolia news agency reported Wednesday.

The simultaneous attacks launched by members of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party near Cukurca in Hakkari province which borders Iran and Iraq triggered fighting that lasted until the early hours, Anatolia said, quoting a statement from the local governor's office.
 
Cukurca is often the scene of intense fighting between Turkish forces and PKK members.
 
The latest attack comes after a Turkish soldier and a villager were killed on Monday in clashes with militants in the same region.
 
About 45,000 people have been killed since the PKK took up arms for autonomy in Kurdish-majority southeastern Turkey in 1984.

The PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization by Turkey, the European Union and the United States.